Fiber optical target practice system

ABSTRACT

The specification of this application describes a target practice system which includes an optical arrangement by which light may be directed from a gun towards a target. The target includes a photosensitive means connected to initiate a scoring display system. The source of light for the gun is located at a point remote from the gun and light from the source is conveyed to the gun through a fiber optical conducting system. The source generates flashes of light in a gas tube which is fired by an electrical signal as an incident to alteration in light flux in an optical subsystem. The subsystem includes a second light source and fiber optic circuitry for conducting light from the second source through the gun and thence to light-sensitive circuitry in which the initiating pulse is generated. Means are provided within the gun for altering the light flow through the gun in response to actuation of the trigger mechanism. In the embodiment described in detail in this specification, the initiating pulse is generated by the secondary optical system upon the occasion of interruption of light flow through the secondary fiber optical circuit.

United States Patent Carlo Giannetti 2918 W. Ball Road, Anaheim, Calif.92804 [21 Appl. No. 682,286

[22] Filed Nov. 13, 1967 [45] Patented Apr. 6, 1971 [72] Inventor [54]FIBER OPTICAL TARGET PRACTICE SYSTEM 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 273/l0l.1, 240/641, 350/96 [51] Int. Cl F4lj 5/00 [50] FieldotSearch 273/l0l.l;

35/25; 350/96; 240/641, 10.62, (inquired); 250/227, 206, 221, 222, 231

3,398,288 8/1968 Sandersetal 250/222 Primary Examiner-Richard C. PinkhamAssistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney-Harvey C. Nienow ABSTRACT:The specification of this application describes a target practice systemwhich includes an optical arrangement by which light may be directedfrom a gun towards a target. The target includes a photosensitive meansconnected to initiate a scoring display system. The source of light forthe gun is located at a point remote from the gun and light from thesource is conveyed to the gun through a fiber optical conducting system.The source generates flashes of light in a gas tube which is fired by anelectrical signal as an incident to alteration in light flux in anoptical subsystem. The subsystem includes a second light source andfiber optic circuitry for conducting light from the second sourcethrough the gun and thence to light-sensitive circuitry in which theinitiating pulse is generated. Means are provided within the gun foraltering the light flow through the gun in response to actuation of thetrigger mechanism. In the embodiment described in detail in thisspecification, the initiating pulse is generated by the secondaryoptical system upon the occasion of interruption of light flow throughthe secondary fiber optical circuit.

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Wm v .c w mar B aw kw w w f a M 4 M w Fw G sr I a F l1 z .i z 1; 62 R 22 a in 4 m mm 3 M 3 WM a 6 w m 1 FIBER OPTICAL TARGET PRACTICE SYSTEMThis invention relates to improvements in optical target practicesystems.

An object of the invention is to provide a reliable and safe targetpractice system for installation in public amusement places. One of itsimportant objects is to provide a system which introduces no increase inrisk of harm to the user of the system, no matter how he uses or misusesit. A related object is to provide a system which requires minimumattention of an attendant and which will be safe and effective andreliable in installation having no attendant.

An initial increment of safety is provided in target systems bydispensing with bullets and using light beams instead. For practicalreasons, the light must originate in the gun and be directed toward thetarget. It must be confined to a narrow beam and to a short time period.Because of these boundary conditions, successful operation demands thata very high-intensity light'source be used. The flashing of a gasdischarge tube provides an adequate source of light. However, very highelectrical voltages are required to fire such tubes and this highpotential is a source of danger. It is an object of the invention toprovide the requisite high-intensity light flash within the gun withoutthe need to apply high electrical potentials to the gun. This object isrealized in part by the provision of an optical system in which light ofshort duration and high intensity is generated externally to the gun andis transported to the gun in a flexible optical system from whence itcan be shot" toward the target. The light source is initiated byactuation of the trigger mechanism of the target gun. Alternative meansmay be employed for this purpose. Thus, the trigger mechanism of the gunmay be made to operate an electric switch in a low-voltage electricalcontrol circuit. Any safety hazard in the use of such an electricalcontrol is minimized by restricting the system to low voltages. Inanother embodiment, the one selected for illustration in the drawing,the light shot" is accomplished by a subsystem which includes a fiberoptic network for conveying light from a remote point to the gun andback. Means actuated by the trigger mechanism of the gun alters lightflow in the control subsystem and the highintensity flash shot isinitiated as a function of that alteration in light flow. In connectionwith this embodiment, another object of the invention is to provide atarget practice system in which no electrical energy is applied to thetarget gun.

Another object is to provide a system in which the electrical andelectronic functions of light generation, shot" counting, on-offswitching (including any coin-operated switching) and integration of theshot" initiation and scoring functions are all accomplished at a remotepoint out of harm's way.

A major advantage of the invention resides in the fact that the targetgun need only include optical and mechanical elements. The result isincreased ruggedness and reliability.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent uponexamination of the following description of one embodiment of theinvention, it being understood that various modifications may be made inthe embodiment shown and that other embodiments are possible withoutdeparting from the invention or the spirit of the appended claims. Inthe drawings:

FIG. I is a side view in cross section of a target gun suitable for usein target practice systems embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view, partly in cross section, of the target gun of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an optical target practice system embodying theinvention and incorporating the gun of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings there is shown a means forgenerating a high-intensity flashing light which in this embodimentcomprises a three-tenninal, high-intensity, gas flash tube I0. This gasdischarge flash tube, representative types of which are numbered 612- l51 and Kemlite UD6-T2, has a positive electrode 12 and a negativeelectrode 14 and a starter electrode I6. High-voltage direct currentelectrical energy is supplied to the tube by positive line 18 andnegative line 20 from a high-voltage, DC, power supply 22 labeled AC TODC CONVERTER. Alternating current input to unit 22 from AC supply lines24 and 26is stepped up in voltage, rectified, and then filtered inunit.2 2. The tube is fired to create a flash of light by applying apulse of electrical energy to a starter network which consists of aninductor 28 connected from the starter electrode 16 to the negativeterminal 14 and a resistor 30 and capacitor 32 connected in seriescombination from positive terminal 12 to negative terminal 14. The pulsesignal is applied by lines 34 and 36. Both of these lines originate at apulse generator 38. Line 34 is connected to the junction betweenresistor 30 and capacitor 32. Line 36 is connected from the pulsegenerator to a tap on the inductor 28.

The numeral 40 designates a means for conducting light from the sourceto the gun. Advantageously, this means comprises, as shown, an opticalconductor comprising a bundle of elongate, light conducting fibers. Thefibers are enclosed together in a sheaf to form a long flexible lightconducting circuit called a fiber optic light conducting conduit orfiber optic conductor". The input end 40a of the fiber optic conductor40 is fixed in position to receive light flashes from the tube 10 and toconduct them to the other end 40b of the fiber optic conductor 40. End40b is mounted within the target gun 42 so that light emanating from thefiber optic conductor 40 is directed by a beam 44 to a lens system 46(which here comprises a single lens) and thence by a beam 48 in thedirection in which the target pistol is pointed. In the drawing the beam48 is shown directed at a target at which is disposed a light sensitivemeans for converting received light into electrical signals. Here, aphotocell 50 is disposed at the target and electrical signals generatedwhen high-intensity light flashes are received by the photocell aretransmitted by lines 52 to a score unit 54. In the preferred form, thescore unit comprises an optical display system rendered responsive toreceive electrical signals from the solar cell 50 when the remainder ofthe system is activated. A

The pulse generator 38 is one of the elements in a subsystem forgenerating the initiating pulse to the flasher tube 10. The subsystemcomprises a light source 60 in which power is supplied to anincandescent lamp 62. Light from this lamp is introduced into one end64a of an optical fiber conductor 64 whose other end 64b is fixed at onepoint within the target gun 42. Another fiber optic conductor 66 isarranged to carry light from the target gun to an external point whereit is directed at a light-sensitive device having an electrical outputwhich serves as an input to the pulse generator 38. More specifically,the input end 66a of the fiber optic conductor 66 is disposed at asecond point within the target gun 42 spaced from said first point andoriented so that light emanating from the end 64b of conductor 64 isdirected into the input end 66a of conductor 66. Light emanating fromthe other end 66b of the optical conductor 66 is directed, in theembodiment selected for illustration, to a solar cell 68 whoseelectrical output is connected by lines 70 to the input circuit of pulsegenerator 38.

In a preferred form the pulse generator comprises a pulse transformer asecondary winding of which comprises the pulse generator output circuit.The primary winding of the transformer is connected to semiconductordevices connected so that an electrical signal, which changes the biassupplied to an initial one of them, is differentiated by one of them andamplified by others of them prior to application to the primary windingof the pulse transformer. This description fits pulse generators wellknown in the art and selection of a suitable pulse generator is wellwithin the skill of artisans in the art. Advantageously, the pulsegenerator is of a type which provides an output pulse in response to asignificant change in the voltage drop across lines 70. This means thatthe pulse generator will be effective to develop an initiating pulse forthe flash tube 10 whether the triggering signal is developed as thesudden application of light to the solar cell 68 or is developed as aninterruption of light to solar cell 68.

The latter type of signal is preferred for a number of reasons includingthe very important reason that it enables electronic monitoring ofcontinued operation of the incandescent lamp 62. Accordingly in thepreferred form of the invention selected for illustration in thedrawing, the triggering mechanism of the target gun 42, which isgenerally designated 72in FIG. 1, comprises a vane 74 which momentarilyinterrupts the passage of light from fiber optic conductor 64 to fiberoptic conductor 66 when the trigger 76 of the gun is pulled to fire" thegun.

To enable a user to activate the system by insertion of a coin and alsoto deactivate the system after a predetermined number of flashes havebeen initiated or shots have been fired, the system is provided with acoin-operated switch and counter unit 78. This unit is interposedbetween external supply lines 80 and 82 and the system AC source lines24, 26 and 84. Signals indicative of the generation of initiatingsignals in pulse generator 38 are applied by a line 86 to the countercircuitry of the coin-operated switch and counter 78.

In operation of the system, upon insertion of a coin or upon operationby an attendant, the coin-operated switch and counter 78 appliesalternating electrical power from supply lines 80 and 82 to internalsupply lines 84, 24 and 26. Incandescent lamp 62 in light source 60 isilluminated and light from this lamp is transmitted into and along thefiber optic conductor 64 to said first point of the gun. There iteminates from the conductor and enters fiber optic conductor 66 at saidsecond point within the gun. This light is transmitted along the fiberoptic conductor 66 and eminated from end 661) to impinge upon thesolarcell 68. This provides an electrical output which is applied byline 70 to an input in the pulse generator 38. The pulse generatorgenerates an initiating pulse which is applied to line 86 to thecounters in coin-operated switch and counter 78 and is applied by lines34 and 36 to the firing circuit of the gas discharge tube I0. An arcdischarge through the xenon gas of this flash tube produces a veryhigh-intensity light flash which is received at the input end 40a of thefiber optic conductor 40. Light is conducted along this conductor to end40b where it eminates and is directed to a lens system 46 from which abeam 48 emerges in the direction in which the target gun 42 is pointed.When, as shown in FIG. I, the light beam 48 impinges upon a solar cell50 located at the target, an electrical output signal is generated atthe solar cell and is conducted by lines 52 to a scorer unit 54. Thisunit 54 includes means for indicating that the target has been struck bythe light beam 48.

A preferred fonn of trigger-actuated, light-interrupting mechanism isshown in FIG. 1 of the drawings incorporated in a revolver-type handgun.This gun comprises a frame including a barrel 90, a revolver chambersection 92, a trigger guard 94 and a handle frame section 96. Thetrigger mechanism 72 is conventional. It includes a trigger 76 and ahammer 97 interconnected by a spring 98. Together the trigger and hammermechanism are arranged so that when the trigger is squeezed the hammeris forced back, counterclockwise in FIG. 1 until a trip point isreached. At this point spring 98 pulls the hammer 97 forward to theposition it is shown to have in FIG. I. The mechanism is arranged sothat the last portion of hammer movement in the counterclockwisedirection just prior to tripping of the hammer, is accomplished rapidlyregardless of the rate at which the trigger is squeezed.

While this mechanism is advantageously employed because it isconventional, other structural arrangements may be employed. It isnecessary only that some element within the gun be displaced rapidly asthe trigger is squeezed whether the trigger be squeezed rapidly orslowly. That rapidly moving element is used to interrupt the lighttraveling from conductor 64 to conductor 66. In FIG. I interruption isaccomplished by vane 74 which is attached to lower rear portion of thehammer 96. The vane 74 is disposed in a slot formed in the plane of thedirection of vane and hammer movement, in a light conductor holdermember I00. The holder comprises a generally trapezoidal piece made fromflat stock which is retained in position by conformations on the innersurface of the handle portion 96 of the revolver frame. Slots 102,formed in the forward edge of holder I laterally of the holder from itsbottom edge, accommodate the ends 64b and 66a of the fiber opticconductors 64 and 66, respectively. After insertion and alignment of theconductors the holder is deformed to hold the conductor ends firmlywithin the slots 102. Thus arranged, light from conductor end 64b isbeamed across the slot and enters end 660 of conductor 66 unlessinterrupted by the vane.

The three optical conductors 64, 66 and 40 are brought together withinthe handle of the revolver in a structure 104 which comprises theterminus of a sheath 106 which contains the fiber optic conductors andextends with them to the electronic sections of the system.

The end 401) of the fiber optic conductor 40is housed in the centralbore of a plug 108. The plug is aligned in the initial portion of thegun barrel adjacent the revolver section 92 of the frame. It is alignedwith the barrel so that light eminating from end 40b travels along thecenter line of the barrel and passes through the center of thecoluminating lens 46. This lens is disposed in the barrel normal to thedirection of light travel and to the axis of the barrel. The outer endof the barrel is recessed to form an inner opening of larger diameter atthe end of the barrel and to form a shoulder upon which the margin oflens rests. The lens is fixed in this position by a sleeve IIO which ispressed into the end of the barrel against the outer margins of thelens. FIG. 3 illustrates the axial alignment of the end 40b of the fiberoptical conductor and of the plug 108 with the gun barrel 90.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of myinvention I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible.My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as isnecessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. In an optical target practice system, in combination:

a target gun including a trigger mechanism and optical means forreceiving light from a source and transmitting it in a directiondetermined by the direction in which said target gun is pointed;

a flashing light source remote from the gun and responsive to aninitiating signal to apply a flash of light to said optical means ofsaid gun;

initiating means responsive to abrupt alteration in light flux quantityfor applying an initiating signal to said flashing light source;

a source of continuous light; and

means for conducting light from said source of continuous light to saidgun and thence to said initiating means; and

light flux alteration means responsive to actuation of said triggermechanism for altering ah uptly the light flux conducted from saidsource of continuous light to said initiating means whereby a flash oflight is caused to be directed in the direction in which said target gunis pointed.

2. The invention defined in claim I, in which said optical means of saidgun comprises a lens system mounted in the barrel of said gun and afiber optic light-conducting conduit mounted within said gun to directlight through said lens system.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, in which said flashing light sourcecomprises a gas flash tube and an alternating current to highunidirectional voltage converter having its output connected across saidflash tube and circuit means for applying an electrical initiating pulseto said flash tube.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, in which said means for conductinglight from said source of continuous light and thence to said initiatingmeans includes a fiber optic light con duit extending from said sourceof continuous light to a'first point within said gun and a fiber opticlight conduit for receiving light at a second point spaced from saidfirst point and conducting it to said initiating means; and in whichsaid light flux alteration means comprises an opaque vane mounted withinsaid target gun and responsive to actuation of said trigger mechanism tointerrupt the passage of light from said first point to said secondpoint momentarily.

5. The invention defined in claim 1, in which said initiating meanscomprises a light-sensitive cell for generating a signal of uniformcharacter in response to uninterrupted light from said source ofcontinuous light and responsive upon interruption of said light toprovide an initiating signal to said flashing light source.

6. The invention defined in claim 1, in which said optical meanscomprises a lens system and the fiber optic light conducting conduiteffective to direct conducted light through said lens system; and inwhich said flashing light source comprises a gas tube effective on beingflashed to direct a flash of light to said fiber optic conduit, and anAC to high voltage DC converter having its output connected across saidgas tube; said initiating meansbeing responsive to interruption of lightfor generating and applying to said gas tube an electrical pulseeffective to fire'said tube; said means for conducting light comprisinga fiber optic conduit positioned to receive light from said source ofcontinuous light and extending to a point within said gun, and furthercomprising a fiber optic conduit commencing at a second point withinsaid gun spaced from said first point and efiective to conduct lightfrom said second point to said initiating means.

7. In an optical target practice system, in combination:

a flashing light source responsive to an initiating signal forgenerating a flash of light;

a target gun including a trigger mechanism and optical means forreceiving light from said flashing light source and transmitting it in aselected direction;

a second light source; means for providing an initiating signal to saidflashing light source comprising an initiating signal generating meansresponsive to alteration in flux from said second light source togenerate said initiating signal, and means for conducting light fromsaid second light source to said initiating signal generating means; and

means responsive to actuation of said trigger mechanism for .6 alteringthe light flux passing through said means for conducting light from saidsecond source.

8. An optical target practice system, in combination:

a flashing source responsive to an alteration in light input flux forproviding a flash of light;

a target gun including an optical system for directing light appliedthereto in the direction in which said gun is pointed and furthercomprising a trigger mechanism;

fiber optic means for transmitting light from said flashing light sourceto said optical system of said target gun;

a second fiber optic system for transmitting light flux to an input ofsaid flashing light source; and

means actuated by said trigger mechanism for altering the light fluxsupplied by said second fiber optic system to said flashing lightsource.

9. In an optical target practice system, in combination:

a target gun including a trigger mechanism and optical means forreceiving light from a source and transmitting it in a directiondetermined by the direction in which said target gun is pointed;

a flashing light source responsive to an initiating signal to apply aflash of light to said optical means of said gun;

initiating means responsive to abrupt alteration in light flux quantityfor applying an initiating signal to said flashing light source;

a source of continuous light;

means for conducting light from said source of continuous light to saidgun and thence to said initiating means; and

light flux alteration means responsive to actuation of said triggermechanism for altering abruptly the light flux conducted from saidsource of continuous light to said initiating means whereby a flash oflight is caused to be directed in the direction in which said target gunis pointed.

1. In an optical target practice system, in combination: a target gunincluding a trigger mechanism and optical means for receiving light froma source and transmitting it in a direction determined by the directionin which said target gun is pointed; a flashing light source remote fromthe gun and responsive to an initiating signal to apply a flash of lightto said optical means of said gun; initiating means responsive to abruptalteration in light flux quantity for applying an initiating signal tosaid flashing light source; a source of continuous light; and means forconducting light from said source of continuous light to said gun andthence to said initiating means; and light flux alteration meansresponsive to actuation of said trigger mechanism for altering abruptlythe light flux conducted from said source of continuous light to saidinitiating means whereby a flash of light is caused to be directed inthe direction in which said target gun is pointed.
 2. The inventiondefined in claim 1, in which said optical means of said gun comprises alens system mounted in the barrel of said gun and a fiber opticlight-conducting conduit mounted within said gun to direct light throughsaid lens system.
 3. The invention defined in claim 1, in which saidflashing light source comprises a gas flash tube and an alternatingcurrent to high unidirectional voltage converter having its outputconnected across said flash tube and circuit means for applying anelectrical initiating pulse to said flash tube.
 4. The invention definedin claim 1, in which said means for conducting light from said source ofcontinuous light and thence to said initiating means includes a fiberoptic light conduit extending from said source of continuous light to afirst point within said gun and a fiber optic light conduit forreceiving light at a second point spaced from said first point andconducting it to said initiating means; and in which said light fluxalteration means comprises an opaque vane mounted within said target gunand responsive to actuation of said trigger mechanism to interrupt thepassage of light from said first point to said second point momentarily.5. The invention defined in claim 1, in which said initiating meanscomprises a light-sensitive cell for generating a signal of uniformcharacter in response to uninterrupted light from said source ofcontinuous light and responsive upon interruption of said light toprovide an initiating signal to said flashing light source.
 6. Theinvention defined in claim 1, in which said optical means comprises alens system and the fiber optic light conducting conduit effective todirect conducted light through said lens system; and in which saidflashing light source comprises a gas tube effective on being flashed todirect a flash of light to said fiber optic conduit, and an AC to highvoltage DC converter having its output connected acRoss said gas tube;said initiating means being responsive to interruption of light forgenerating and applying to said gas tube an electrical pulse effectiveto fire said tube; said means for conducting light comprising a fiberoptic conduit positioned to receive light from said source of continuouslight and extending to a point within said gun, and further comprising afiber optic conduit commencing at a second point within said gun spacedfrom said first point and effective to conduct light from said secondpoint to said initiating means.
 7. In an optical target practice system,in combination: a flashing light source responsive to an initiatingsignal for generating a flash of light; a target gun including a triggermechanism and optical means for receiving light from said flashing lightsource and transmitting it in a selected direction; a second lightsource; means for providing an initiating signal to said flashing lightsource comprising an initiating signal generating means responsive toalteration in flux from said second light source to generate saidinitiating signal, and means for conducting light from said second lightsource to said initiating signal generating means; and means responsiveto actuation of said trigger mechanism for altering the light fluxpassing through said means for conducting light from said second source.8. An optical target practice system, in combination: a flashing sourceresponsive to an alteration in light input flux for providing a flash oflight; a target gun including an optical system for directing lightapplied thereto in the direction in which said gun is pointed andfurther comprising a trigger mechanism; fiber optic means fortransmitting light from said flashing light source to said opticalsystem of said target gun; a second fiber optic system for transmittinglight flux to an input of said flashing light source; and means actuatedby said trigger mechanism for altering the light flux supplied by saidsecond fiber optic system to said flashing light source.
 9. In anoptical target practice system, in combination: a target gun including atrigger mechanism and optical means for receiving light from a sourceand transmitting it in a direction determined by the direction in whichsaid target gun is pointed; a flashing light source responsive to aninitiating signal to apply a flash of light to said optical means ofsaid gun; initiating means responsive to abrupt alteration in light fluxquantity for applying an initiating signal to said flashing lightsource; a source of continuous light; means for conducting light fromsaid source of continuous light to said gun and thence to saidinitiating means; and light flux alteration means responsive toactuation of said trigger mechanism for altering abruptly the light fluxconducted from said source of continuous light to said initiating meanswhereby a flash of light is caused to be directed in the direction inwhich said target gun is pointed.